brakes HONDA PRELUDE 1990 Owners Manual

ALB (Anti Lock Brakes) help to maintain the road holding and
tractability of your car during severe braking, and under slippery road conditions. The ALB system prevents the wheels from locking(thus reducing the chance of skidding) to ensure controllable
deceleration. When sudden braking might otherwise lock one or more wheels, the ALB system temporarily reduces the braking
pressure to the wheel or wheels about to lock to ensure continued
braking efficiency.
When the ALB is regulating the braking pressure, the brake pedal pulsates slightly to make the driver aware that the system is
compensating for critical braking conditions. The pulsating brake pedal can be an indication of hazardous road condition, and to
remind you to take extra care.
Don't mix different diameter tires; it will confuse the ALB
computer which monitors the road speed of each wheel. For
example, if one or more tires are larger than the others, the computer will think they are rolling more slowly (as if they are
about to lock up) and reduce brake pressure to those wheels.On loose or uneven surfaces (gravel, ruts etc.) where all four
wheels loss traction intermittently, the ALB system may require
a longer stopping distance than an equivalent car with a conventional braking system.
The ALB system cannot make up for extreme road conditions or driver misjudgement, It is still the driver's responsibility to drive
at a suitable speed and provide a margin of safety for the road,
weather and traffic conditions at hand.

CAUTION:

Be careful not to damage the wiring or the speed sensors at the
back of each wheel when removing mud or snow from the wheel
housings.
NOTE:
You may hear a sound like a small motor running, coming from the engine while driving or after the ALB is applied. This indicates theALB pump is in service and the system is working properly.
Ant
i
Lock Brake (Si with ALB)
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Cruise Control (cont'd)

To Change the Set Speed: To a faster speed — For gradual acceleration with your foot off the
accelerator, push
and hold the RESUME switch until you reach the
desired speed; release the switch and the system's memory will be re-programmed to the new speed.
For faster acceleration, push the accelerator until you reach the
desired speed, then push and release the SET switch to re-program
the system.

To a slower speed — push and hold the SET switch and the car willcoast; when you reach the desired slower speed, release the switchand the system will be re-programmed.
For temporary acceleration above the set speed, such as for passing,
use the accelerator pedal conventionally. When you want to return
to the set speed, take your foot off the accelerator and coast without applying the brakes.
The Cruise Control automates the function of the accelerator pedal to maintain your car at a constant speed. This can be a
convenience on long trips, but it can also be a danger if there are many other cars on the road or if the road is unfamiliar. Pay strict
attention to the responsibility of driving whenever using the Cruise Control.

CAUTION:

Because the Cruise Control directly activates the accelerator pedal, don't rest your foot under the pedal when the Cruise
Control is on; it may pull the pedal down onto your foot.
NOTE:
With Cruise Control on, your speed will still vary slightly,particularly when going up or down hills.
Do not drive with your foot on the brake or clutch pedal (manual
transmission), as this will cause the Cruise Control to disengage.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Sunroof
Sunroof
To open the sunroof, push and hold the switch. To close
the sunroof, push and hold the switch. Release the switch
when the roof reaches the desired position.
Do not hold the switch on after the sunroof has fully opened or
closed, or you may damage the sunroof motor. Do not allow any part of your body to extend through the
sunroof while the vehicle is in motion. In the event of a collision
or
sudden application of the brakes, severe personal injury could

result.

To avoid the possibility of injury while closing the sunroof,

never allow
any part of your body to extend through the

opening.

CAUTION:

Operating the sunroof in severe cold or when it is covered with
snow or ice may cause damage to the sunroof.

Sunshade

As well as the sunroof, there is a sliding sunshade which you canadjust to let in light with the roof closed, or to block out light
entirely. The sunshade opens automatically as you open the sunroof.

(cont'd)

Push
Push

SUNSHADE
SLIDING GLASSProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Shifting the 5 Speed
The fully synchronized manual
transmission is very easy to shift up or down. When you slow

down for traffic, steep hills, or
corners, shift to a lower gearbefore the engine starts to labor.
When descending steep grades, select a lower gear to help
maintain a safe speed and to
prevent the brakes from over-

heating.

When shifting, depress the clutch pedal fully, shift gears and then release the clutch gradually. Do not speed-shift; allow time for the
gears to synchronize.
To prevent grinding the gears when shifting into reverse, hold the clutch pedal depressed briefly before shifting, or shift the lever intoone of the forward gears before selecting reverse.
A safety lockout prevents accidental shifting straight from 5th to

Reverse.

Avoid rapid acceleration or sudden deceleration when either or both driving wheels are on a slippery surface. Decreased traction
could cause loss of directional control.

CAUTION:
Do not drive with your foot on the clutch pedal as this will causepremature wear of clutch components.
Do not shift into reverse while the car is moving.

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Operating Tips

For smoother operation, apply the brakes when shifting from
Neutral or Park to a forward or reverse gear.
When parking: bring the car to a stop with the foot brake, hold the brake on and shift into Park, set the hand brake and then turn off
the engine.

NOTE:

Your 4 speed automatic transmission is equipped with a torque
converter lock-up clutch. Because of this, you may notice what
feels like an extra shift as the clutch engages.
CAUTION: Shift into P only after the car has come to a complete stop.
Shift into or out of R only after the car has come to a complete

stop.

Do not "rev-up" the engine when the brake is on and the shift
lever is in D, S, 2 or R.
When stopped on a hill, use the brakes to hold your position, not the accelerator pedal.Do not shift from N or P into D, S, 2 or R when the engine is
above idle speed. Before shifting into gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal. Do not rest your hand on the shift lever or push the shift button
while driving.

Driving Technique

D-4th
Use the D range for normal in-town and highway driving. The car
will start off in 1st and shift automatically to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The
further down you push the accelerator, the later the transmission will shift and the faster the car will accelerate.

S3/S4

The "S" shift selector range changes the shift points under part
throttle acceleration, allowing the transmission to stay in each lower
gear for a longer period before automatically upshifting. With the shift selector in the "S" range, the "S3" indicator light in the dashpanel will come on and the transmission will shift from 1st to 2nd
and 3rd but not 4th. This is especially useful when climbing or
descending grades. While driving in the "S" range, the car's performance is improved but fuel economy is reduced.
Shifting the Automatic (cont'd)ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Towing a Trailer (cont'd)

Hitches

Use only a hitch recommended by your Honda dealer. The hitch

should be bolted securely to the car and installed by a qualified

technician. Do not use a hitch designed for temporary installation
and never use one that attaches only to the bumper.
Trailer Brakes and safety chains
The Honda Automobile Division recommends that trailers equippedwith brakes, should conform to any applicable federal and stateregulations, When using a trailer equipped with electric brakes, a
trailer brake controller that connects to the car's electrical system is recommended. Installing a brake controller that connects to the car's
brake hydraulic system could result in brake fluid contamination or
leaks, A safety chain must always be used between the car and the
trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the chain so that it does not bind in
sharp turns. The chain should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the ground.

Tires
Make sure your car's are properly inflated. Adjust tire pressure

to the recommended tire pressure indicated on the label attached to
the edge of the driver's door.The trailer tires should be of the proper size, load rating and inflated to the pressure recommended
by the trailer manufacturer.
Trailer Lights
Trailer light must comply with federal, state and local regulations. See your local recreation vehicle dealer or rental agency for the

correct type of lighting and wiring for your trailer, Check for correct
operation of the turn signals and stop lights each time you hitch up.

CAUTION:

Connections to your car's electrical system should be made by
your Honda dealer or a qualified electrician.Improper installation

may damage your vehicle's electrical system and cause a

malfunction of the lights.
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CAUTION:
Before starting out, check the operation of the lights and all car/
trailer connections. After driving a short distance, stop and
recheck the lights and connections.
Reversing is difficult and requires practice. While backing-up,
the trailer may pivot off-course. To correct for this, grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the left to
move the trailer to the left, or to the right to move the trailer to
the right. Turn the steering wheel a little at a time, and keep the
speed very low. Have someon e guide you when backing.

To help
prevent overheating of the brakes, shift into a lower
gear to make use of engine braking before descending steep or
long grades. Do not make sudden downshifts. Pay strict attention to the coolant temperature gauge when
going up hills. Because of the added load of the trailer, your car's
engine may overheat on hot days. Turning off the air conditioner
will reduce the load on the cooling system.
On cars equipped with automatic transmission. —Do not hold the car stationary on an incline by using the accelerator pedal; this can cause the transmission fluid tooverheat. Instead, use the handbrake or footbrake.
—When towing trailers, avoid high transmission fluid temperatures (caused by the transmission frequently shiftingbetween 3rd and 4th gears) by driving in S3.

NOTE:

Be sure to check state and local laws concerning maximum speed or

other driving restrictions for cars towing trailers. If you are driving
across several states, check each state's requirements before

leaving home, because restrictions may vary.

Parking with a Trailer

Whenever parking your car on an incline with a trailer attached, first
place and seat chocks at each wheel of the car and trailer. This is in

addition to the normal parking preparations of firmly applying the parking brake and placing the transmission in first or reverse
(manual transmission) or P (automatic transmission).

CAUTION:
Parking on an incline is not recommended and should be done only
if it cannot be avoided. Follow all precautions mentioned above
and turn the wheels to point towards a curb if facing downhill,
away from a curb if facing uphill. When leaving an inclined parking place, move the car slightly to unseat the chocks. Then while
keeping the foot brakes firmly applied, have an assistant remove
the chocks.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Check the following items at each fuel stop:

1. Engine oil level.

2. Radiator coolant level.
Check the following items periodically: 1. Brakes: for braking efficiency, brake pedal travel and hydraulic fluid level.
2. Lights: for operation of headlights, taillights, side marker lights, stoplights, turn signals and back-up lights.
3. Tires: for correct pressures (including spare); inspect for cuts and uneven or excessive wear. Rotate every 7,500 miles (12,000 km)
in the pattern shown on page 107.
4. Steering: for excessive play or vibration while driving. 5. Exhaust system: for leaks or loose mounts.
6. Wipers: for operation of windshield wipers and washer, and condition of wiper blades.
7. Seat belts: for condition of fabric and buckles, and operation of the restraint mechanism.

8. Battery condition.

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Brakes

Brake System Design
The diagonally-separated dual service brake systemis designed so half the
system will still provide
braking action if the other
half fails.However, stopping the car with only half the system will require
more pedal pressure and pedal travel than normal. Also, the distance
required to stop will be longer using only half the brake system. If
the brakes fail suddenly, downshift to a lower gear for increased engine braking, and pull off the road as soon as possible.
It is dangerous to drive your car with a problem in either the
brake electrical or hydraulic system; have your dealer check
both systems if you suspect brake trouble. Do not ride the brakes, In other words, don't put your foot on
the brake pedal unless you intend to brake. This causes excessive brake wear and can damage, or lead to loss of braking
effectiveness through overheating. Your brake lights may also
confuse drivers behind you.Driving through deep water may affect the brakes.
Check their effectiveness by pressing the brake pedal gently.If the car does not slow down at the normal rate, continue
gently applying the brakes, while maintaining a safe speed, until
they dry out and normal performance returns.
Brake Wear
Both front and rear brakes should be inspected for wear at the
intervals shown in the maintenance schedule on page 78
When the brakes require maintenance, use only genuine Honda replacement parts or their equivalent.
Brake Wear Indicators
Your car is equipped with audible brake wear indicators. When the
brake pads need to be replaced, the wear indicators will make a "screeching" sound or a high pitch chirp.

NOTE:

Due to some driving habits or climates, brakes may "squeal" when
you first apply them or when you have them partially applied; this is normal, and does not indicate excessive wear. The wear indicator
makes a "screeching" sound while the brakes are applied.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR
Brake Fluid
Check the fluid level in the brake
fluid reservoir periodically; it should be between the MAX and MINmarks on the reservoir.If the level is near the MIN mark, add
fluid to raise it to the MAX mark. Do not overfill, Use only brake fluid
manufactured to DOT 3 or DOT 4
specifications (see reservoir cap)
from a seated container. Follow the manufacturer's instructions printed
on the can.
NOTE:
A low brake fluid level may be an indication of brake pad wear or of
brake fluid leakage. You should have your brakes checked if the
brake fluid level in the reservoir is low before refilling it.
CAUTION:
The arrow on the reservoir cap must be pointing forward after the cap is installed. Make sure the brake warning switch wiring doesn't
get caught between the cap and top edge of the reservoir.
ANTI LOCK
BRAKE FLUIDRESERVOIR
Anti Lock Brake Fluid (Si with ALB)
Check the fluid level in the ALB
reservoir periodically.

To check, drive the car for a few

minutes to equalize fluid pressure in
the system.
The level should be between the

MAX and MIN marks on the

reservoir. If the level is near the MIN
mark, add fluid to raise it to the
MAX mark.
Do not overfill. Use only brake fluid
manufactured to DOT 3 or DOT 4

specifications from a sealed

container.

Follow the manufacturer's

instructions printed on the can.
If the level is more than 10 mm (0.4 in) above the MAX mark, it may
indicate a malfunction of ALB system. Have an authorized Honda
dealer check the system as soon as possible.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s